Right notes: Retired tour manager provides a special meal to SWFL children

David Harrison, 82, jokes with a child during a special luncheon with children from the Golisano Children's Hospital of ...more

David Harrison, 82, jokes with a child during a special luncheon with children from the Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Children's Network of Southwest Florida. Harrison has hosted the luncheon for years to give back to the area's children.

David Harrison, 82, hosts a free lunch for children with the Golisano Children's Hospital of ...more

David Harrison, 82, hosts a free lunch for children with the Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Children's Network of Southwest Florida at The Players Club & Spa. Harrison has hosted the luncheon for years to give back to the area's children.

Ashley Collins/Staff

For the past several years, he's hosted five luncheons across Southwest Florida, each time partnering with a hospital or organization to give children and their families relief from their everyday struggles with a nice meal.

Harrison humbly said, "You can actually be a nobody, which I am, and do what I've done."

Harrison is originally from London but has lived in America for nearly 60 years and calls Lehigh Acres home.

Harrison isn't a stranger to giving back. At one time, he worked with comedy legend Bob Hope and helped organize his United Service Organizations tour overseas where Hope performed his variety shows for U.S. troops.

As a "thank you," Harrison got a chance to meet President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy during a dinner party at the White House in 1982. And he had a photo to prove it.

He said he's still shocked he lived that moment in time.

He brought that photo and several others to Tuesday's luncheon. One showed him posing with country star Kenny Rogers and another with vocalist Tom Jones.

After lunch, children got a chance to win prizes such as movie tickets and fidget spinners. For fun, Harrison played a guessing game with them and had them try to guess how old he is and what year it was when he had dinner with President Reagan in order to get a prize.

Two sweet cakes welcome children with the Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida and the ...more

Two sweet cakes welcome children with the Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Children's Network of Southwest Florida during a special luncheon hosted by David Harrison, 82, at The Players Club & Spa. Harrison has hosted the luncheon for years to give back to the area's children.

Ashley Collins/Staff

Several children from Youth Haven in Naples — a residential emergency shelter for boys and girls ages 6-17 — enjoyed the buffet-style lunch and prizes.

Terri Roberts, care worker with Youth Haven, said it's good Samaritans like Harrison that make a difference in these children's lives.

"I think it's really important and I'm so grateful for this gentleman. We really appreciate it," Roberts said.

Area children enjoy free lunch hosted by David Harrison at The Players Club & Spa. Harrison has ...more

Area children enjoy free lunch hosted by David Harrison at The Players Club & Spa. Harrison has hosted the event for many years to make children in need feel special.

Ashley Collins/Staff

Jose Gonzalez and his family were happy to spend a day away from hospitals and doctors offices.

His daughter Miranda, 6, sat on her father's lap as Harrison gave out prizes.

Miranda was diagnosed with eye cancer when she was 3. She underwent chemotherapy for 18 months at Golisano Children's Hospital in Fort Myers. She lost vision in her left eye.

David Harrison, 82, shows off photo of him with President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy during a ...more

David Harrison, 82, shows off photo of him with President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy during a special luncheon for local children at The Players Club & Spa.

Ashley Collins/Staff

Despite it all, Gonzalez said they're blessed and they appreciate what Harrison did for him and his family.

"It's a blessing to be able to get away from our everyday things that we've been through and take our minds off of things for a little bit," he added.